Written by Emily McMillan. 24th August 2025.

That might sound like an odd thing to say. But it’s true. We are not for everyone, and that’s ok.

A small business cannot be everything to everyone. What we can be is true to our own values and serve the customers who match those values to the best of our ability. So, with that in mind, here area few things that Wagging Tails Pet Grooming is not.

• We are not the cheapest

We value ourselves as professionals and we value the time and skill it takes to groom your dogs, keep them safe and provide a welcoming environment. Our prices reflect this. We use high end grooming products because we know they work and will give high quality results. Our staff also have the right to be paid appropriately for their time and expertise, to be able to take breaks and to look after themselves so that they can keep looking after the dogs in our care.

• We are not the fastest

Your dog might be with us for 2-3 hours but that doesn’t mean they are actively being groomed for 2-3 hours. This timeframe allows for them to have breaks, to get a drink of water, to have some playtime if needed. It also allows for our groomers to learn and develop their skills, to assess your dog’s wellbeing, to carry out health checks, to keep the salon clean and safe and, importantly, to create a bond with your dog.

• We are not solo groomers

We have members of staff and also student groomers working in the salon. We are there to support each other and learn from each other. It also means that we are able to care for dogs who might need more than one person to help them through their grooming appointment. Having worked as a solo groomer for many years, I know and appreciate the value of having others around me now for support on the tough days, and to offer my support to them in return.

• We are not a single-dog salon

There are dogs who really need to be the only one in the salon and that is completely understandable. We do not just take any dog for the sake of having more clients. If we feel that your dog and our salon are not a good fit, we will suggest your dog goes to a solo groomer or a mobile groomer.

• We are not here for the “once a year shavedowns”

We are here to be part of your dog’s care team, which includes you as their guardian but also their vet, dog walker, boarder, physio, massage therapist…any and all of the people who are involved in looking after your dogs. With regular and frequent grooming appointments, a good groomer can spot changes in health or behaviour over time. We (hopefully) see your dog more times throughout the year than the vet which means we often pick up on any changes between appointments. We see right down to their skin, all around their tummies, in their paws. We have our hands literally all over them while shampooing, rinsing, drying, brushing and styling.

A dog who only visits a salon once or twice a year is not given the chance to get used to the process, or get to know the people working with them. More often than not, their coat is matted and needs a lot of work which adds to the stress of the situation and is extremely hard on both the dog and the groomer(s).

• We are not going to brush out a matted dog

If we recommend that your dog’s coat needs to be clipped short to remove matting, this is not us being “lazy”. This is our professional judgement on the condition of your dog’s coat and what is best for their welfare. We don’t want to shave dogs short – it involves a lot of wear and tear on the dogs, on us and on our equipment. We have seen enough matted coats to know when it can be “saved” versus when it needs to be clipped off. Fur grows back, but a dog who is forced through a painful de-matting with a brush will forever hate being groomed.

Oh, and also, your dog is not embarrassed; you are. Their skin might feel different after a heavily matted coat is clipped off meaning they might act slightly differently, or hide, or rub themselves all over the place . But this is not the fault of the groomer. A matted coat is preventable.

So, as I said, we are not for everyone, and that’s ok.

Find the groomer and the salon that works for you and your dog. Work with that groomer, get to know them, build a relationship with them. That way, your dog will get the greatest benefit!

Don’t forget to tell your dog we said “Hi” :-)